"Vertical venting: "Higher yields and lower energy consumption"

In high tech floriculture, vertical venting is already quite common, but in vegetable horticulture the technique is still relatively unknown. "By blowing the air back into the crops prevents getting a dead climate," says Henk de Groot of Nivola. Also, with the heat back into the crop you need lower minimum tube temperatures. "Energy savings are about 10 to 15%," he estimates.

Left: Henk de Groot, right: de Nivolator.

"The air is blown sideways,” says Henk de Groot, pointing to the Nivolator. "This way a larger surface area is reached." The Nivolator is a vertical fan, blowing hot, dry air into the crops. Through the top and bottom of the unit, the air reaches the fan. Making full use of the technology, growers can realise a homogeneous greenhouse climate, both in terms of CO2 and in temperature. In addition, the airflow through the crops dries them quickly, preventing the formation of fungi like botrytis.

With smoke the airflow is made visible.

Normally the minimum pipe is used for dealing with humidity between plants, but with the Nivolator this is no longer necessary. The flow of dry air whisks moisture away. "You prevent a dead climate," explains De Groot. All in all, the Nivolator helps growers reach energy savings of about 10 to 15%, says De Groot. “Perhaps even more, but we’re not sure.”